so persevering in my attempts to see you,
madam. It occurred to me, from what Sir Arthur Lyle said of your son,
that he was just the person I have long been looking out for,--a man of
good name and good blood, fresh to the world, neither hackneyed, on
the one hand, nor awkwardly ignorant, on the other; well brought up and
high-principled,--a gentleman, in fact It has long been a plan of mine
to find one such as this, who, calling himself my secretary, would be
in reality my companion and my friend; who would be content to share
the fortunes of a somewhat wayward fellow for a year or two, till,
using what little influence I possess, I could find means of effectually
establishing him in life. Now, madam, I am very diffident about making
such a proposal to one in every respect my equal, and, I have no doubt,
more than my equal in some things; but if he were not my equal, there
would be an end to what I desire in the project. In fact, to make the
mere difference of age the question of superiority between us, is my
plan. We should live together precisely on the terms of equality. In
return for that knowledge of life I could impart to him,--what I know
of the world, not acquired altogether without some sharp experience,--he
would repay me by that hearty and genial freshness which is the wealth
of the young. Now, madam, I will not tire you with any more of my
speculations, purely selfish as they are; but will at once say, if, when
your son and I meet, this notion of mine is to his taste, all the minor
details of it shall not deter him. I know I am not offering a career,
but it is yet the first step that will fit him for one. A young fellow,
gifted as he is, will needs become, in a couple of years' intercourse
with what is pre-eminently society, a man of consummate tact and
ability. All that I know of life convinces me that the successful men
are the ready-witted men. Of course I intend to satisfy you with respect
to myself. You have a right to know the stability of the bank to whom
you are intrusting your deposit At all events, think over my plan, and
if nothing has already fallen to your son's hands in London, ask him to
come back here and talk it over with me. I can remain here for a week,
that is, if I can hope to meet him." The old lady listened with all
attention and patience to this speech. She was pleased by the flattery
of it. It was flattery, indeed, to hear that consummately fine gentleman
declare that he was ready to